A heart-shaped pool, designed with love

When Leeds General Infirmary was chosen to appear on “One Born Every Minute”, they knew they had to make their water birthing facilities really special. Two of the student midwives Debbie and Coral were asked to find out more.

Speaking to Ruth and David, it was clear that Aquabirths knew how to adapt their pools to make the best of the room available. Particularly, it was their collaborative approach that helped the Leeds’ midwives feel that they could influence the design.

David drew up plans based on their ideas. Then, because they wanted something special, Mick the pattern maker made a wooden mockup of a birthing pool so that the midwives could try it out for themselves. They stepped in, laid back and suggested ways to make it work better for labouring women. Their suggestions led to Aquabirth’s unique heart shaped birthing pool.

Lobed birthing pools are particularly difficult to design because women of different heights need different places to sit or brace their feet. Another supplier had tried and failed, but our midwives trusted Aquabirths to make it work.

The plumber, Malcolm, then helped our midwives to understand the ins and outs of the plumbing involved. That helped them choose the longer lasting but heavier quarter turn ball valve, because as they said, “we’re harder in Leeds!!”

All this and Aquabirths completed the work in record time to make sure everything was ready for filming. The room is now an impressive mix of a generous heart-shaped pool, with LED mood and star lighting: the perfect home from home for labouring ladies.